advantages and disadvantages

Written: 4 july 2011
Travel time: 28 may — 11 june 2011
Who does the author recommend the hotel to?: For families with children
Your rating of this hotel:
6.0
from 10
Hotel ratings by criteria:
Rooms: 6.0
Cleanliness: 7.0
Food: 4.0
Amenities: 4.0
We rested in this hotel with a family (4 people) from May 28 to June 11.2011. The holiday season on the Costa Bravo opens on the 20th of June, so during our vacation the hotel buildings were not even half full. In general, the service of the hotel corresponds to the designated Spanish "3 stars". There are both advantages and disadvantages. Excellent location - the town of Playa D'Aro is called one of the two pearls of Spain. Pines grow next to palms and cypresses, the sea air is fresh, clean and pleasant. From the hotel to the nearest beach (Cala Bella Donna - "Beautiful Woman's Bay") about 150 meters and 156 steep steps. The steps do not bother at all, as the coast, huge pine trees and the sea look too picturesque. The city beach is also not far away, about 15 minutes on foot slowly. The apartments are well equipped: bathroom-toilet even with bidet. Iron, telephone, hair dryer, electric stove, refrigerator, microwave oven, crockery and cutlery in the kitchen. TV and air conditioners, a large terrace, a large set of snow-white (maybe new) towels. The maids clean well. A clean pool under the windows, a lifeguard looks after the children in it. There is a bar, internet, laundry, billiards and a shop. Lots of greenery, everything is clean and tidy.
The hotel has a Russian team of guides from MTC, which provides a higher service for Russian tourists. Before our flight to Spain, the director of the Russian Line, Oksana, called me on my mobile. It was nice and unexpected to hear that we were already waiting.
The transfer fee is 110 euros per family. Upon arrival at the hotel, the manager Irina immediately issued a new SIM card for communication, told everything in detail, showed. Any question or problem was quickly resolved by her. Well done these guys, they work professionally and together, everyone would like it. We booked T-1 apartments (bedroom + living room combined with kitchen). Irina offered an empty T-2 apartment (there are two bedrooms) at no extra charge. True, on the ground floor, but if desired, it was possible to refuse. The ultimate goal of the team is to involve you in the family club holiday system. Hence the high service and security deposit of 500 euros and mandatory participation in the presentation. Well, this “collective farm is a voluntary affair” with elements of an emotional performance at the presentation is not difficult to survive. For me personally, the amount of the entrance fee and membership in their club seemed simply astronomical. But let everyone decide for themselves.

A few words about the "cons" of the hotel. Low ground floor - it only makes sense to choose it for safety reasons for your young children, if they do not understand that you cannot climb out of the terrace. The first floor is like life on the street.
In the very early morning we were awakened by some screams and cries. At first, I thought that the cats were fighting, and “wall to wall”. And then it turned out that it was the seagulls who had taken a fancy to the roofs of the hotel buildings and were enjoying their lives. The kitchen is disappointing. The range is good but small. If a new dish appears at dinner once a week, then breakfasts are always the same. Drinks are present in the buffet only for breakfast, the rest of the time they have to be bought, moreover, at a price 4 times higher than the store. This is the restaurant's income. The cost of the safe in the room is 23 euros per week. First time I see this. Excursions are relatively expensive and short due to the remote location from Barcelona. The “animator girl” who takes care of children did not come. Perhaps in July-August this problem is eliminated. Not a single channel in Russian is broadcast on TV. It's a pity. There are no interruptions in water supply, but the volume of the water heater is small for a family of 4 people.
In general, you can rate the service of the hotel at 6-7 points on a 10-point scale.
Below I give a link to my review of the Alfa-Travel travel agency in St. Petersburg, which sells tickets there. Read, perhaps this review will be of great benefit to you. Good luck !
Translated automatically from Russian. View original